Wodonga-based Viking Racing syndicate stay loyal to racehorse trainer Darren Weir

The Viking Racing syndicate has raced seven horses with one of Australia’s most successful trainers since 2011 with only one failing to win a race.

Syndicate manager John Howes said his dealings with Weir and stable staff had been of the highest order and the raid on stables at Ballarat and Warrnambool early Wednesday had come as a complete shock.

The most successful partnership between the syndicate members, who have connections to Wodonga Raiders Football-Netball Club, was with a horse called, Flying Hostess, who won twice on city tracks and earned prizemoney of close to $300,000.

“We've had horses with the stable since 2011 and have had good success with some, especially Flying Hostess,” Mr Howes said.

“We've always been impressed with the professionalism of the staff and the way they operate.

“We have just purchased another unraced two-year-old in recent weeks, and do not intend on leaving the stables at the current time.

“We will just allow the investigation to take its course and not jump to early conclusions.”

The syndicate’s most recent winner came last July with Our Chiquilla, who was recently sold.

But they presently have an unraced two-year-old colt with Weir and a three-year-old in the care of the trainer’s nephew, Daniel Bowman at Warrnambool, which is about to have its first race start.

Mr Howes said the syndicate had not contemplated what would happen if Weir was charged by police or racing integrity officers.

“We are not looking any further at this stage,” he said.

“I’ve visited the stables three times and have always been amazed at how efficient it was run.”

Following a day of high drama which included the the arrest and subsequent release without charge of Weir, an email from long-time friend and finance and operations manager Mick Leonard was sent to owners.

“As you are most likely aware, Darren Weir Racing is the subject of an external review,” Mr Leonard wrote.

“Our main aim is to ensure our owners are not disadvantaged by this process in any way, and accordingly it is business as usual in regards to the training and care of your horses.

“Thank you for your ongoing support, consideration and loyalty to Darren Weir Racing.”

Weir has had runners in some of the region’s biggest races including the Albury, Wodonga and Wangaratta cups without winning any of them.

Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani has claimed the recent events involving Darren Weir Racing have raised concerns about the stable’s recent triumphs.

Cumani, who is the son of legendary English-based horseman Luca, spoke to The Ballarat Courier on Thursday, just over 24 hours after raids were conducted on Weir’s complexes at Miners Rest and Warrnambool.

“I suppose we have to wait and see what the outcome of the investigation is, but it certainly brings into question the legitimacy of any and all of the stable’s victories in the past and I suppose going forward into the future,” Cumani said.

Weir is the country’s leading trainer and holds the Commonwealth record for the most number of winners in a single season.

Cumani was particularly disturbed by the alleged discovery of electronic devices – known in racing circles as “jiggers” – at Weir’s stables and even questioned their ability to get horses to perform at their best.

“It is implied that ‘jiggers’ are being used to train horses which goes counter to my whole training ethos. The use of a ‘jigger’ sounds painful and cruel and has no place in our sport,” Cumani said.

In some ways, it was business as usual for the team at Darren Weir Racing on Thursday, but the black cloud that now hangs over the stable was certainly a talking point among industry participants at Ballarat Turf Club trackwork.

Weir-trained horses were seen during early-morning training at the BTC, with staff working away even though their future with the stable must not be completely certain.

The Age reported on Thursday that secret surveillance footage taken at Melbourne-Cup winning horse trainer’s properties is at the centre of the investigation into the alleged use of the “jiggers”.

It is understood still pictures were shown to Weir when he was interviewed on Wednesday by detectives from Victoria Police.

- with Tim O'Connor